'Did It Not Captivate?' Why a Two-Day Fixture Was No Less a Proper Test Match.

Displayed inside a glass case on the third floor of the MCG rests a neon pink outfit performed in by the entertainer. His performance in front of a hundred thousand spectators was seen as a triumph.

It's possible you like his music. Perhaps you believe he is the finest offering to music known to man. Alternatively, you may hold a middle ground, conceding that some tracks are belting while others are terrible.

The central idea is that amusement can be delivered diversely. Preferences differ. There is not a single method to craft art or even the longest format.

The Incomparable Variety of The Long Game

The traditional format boasts peerless complexity. One struggles to think of another sport where the playing is so dependent on the environment.

The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the pitch.

If Test cricket is a form of art, the strip is the foundation on which the cricketers paint their masterpiece.

A Test of Cubism: The Fourth Test

The Boxing Day fixture between the old rivals was Test cricket cubism, the traditional sport broken apart and stuck back together in a bizarre shape.

This is not a defence of the wicket which yielded a victory and the second two-day Test of the series.

Allowing 10mm of grass on the surface, causing a cascade of wickets being taken in less than two days, is not a balanced duel between bat and ball.

A Varied History: The Essence of Test Cricket

But any idea this was a inferior show, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.

The format is a varied portfolio, 2,615 parts and still growing. Sometimes, as seen at the MCG, the cricket ball moves excessively for the fast men. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. Sometimes, the pitch is unresponsive, other times it explodes.

The thrillers are even more exciting due to the investment made in other matches.

Adaptation: The Real Challenge

Certain variables are tolerated more readily than others.

The debate in at the MCG was that the balance was weighted unfairly towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from playing their natural game.

The format is about problem solving – reading the situation and responding effectively. The top two individual scores were made by world-class players. One side made more mistakes than the other, and thus lost.

Pure Elation: For Those Who Waited

Attempt to convince the fans who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.

In a corner of the ground, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, generating a carnival vibe in a stronghold of sport.

There was belief as the fielding side dominated, impetus when the top order responded, and unconditional love when the win was confirmed.

Polar Opposites: The Spectrum of Test Matches

The Melbourne has form with controversial surfaces. In the past, a Test there featured a wicket with the excitement of a pulled Christmas cracker.

That fixture was a marathon, with minimal action and slow play. The two-day game and that drawn affair are extreme ends of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet value can be found in both.

Deep into the series into the current series, it is the quick finishes that will remain iconic in the memory.

"This isn't the demise of Test cricket at all," said a veteran. "Spectators who have been privileged to see these two days have been treated to some real entertainment. An unusual spectacle."

Signs of Progress: Looking Ahead

In the preparation to this Test, the skipper talked like a man carrying the heavy burden on his mind.

The squad delivered for him, bringing back the positive demeanor to his face.

New faces performed with vital performances. These are incremental gains, certainly not enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to use as a platform.

In the end, this Melbourne victory joins other memorable performances in dead rubbers.

As the crowd left into a stunning sunset, the team gathered on the outfield to start their own festivities.

Savour the moment, boys. It's well deserved.